John Kerry: Iranian Arms Shipment en Route to Yemen Apprehended

Aden- United States Secretary of State John Kerry , on Feb.26, announced that Iran, in Yemen, continues to support Houthi militias and the ousted President Saleh supporters . Iranian support is helping the insurgency against the legitimate administration of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Kerry added that a cargo jam-packed with artillery was stopped en route from Iran to Yemen. The apprehended shipment proves Iran’s continuation to aid certain groups. The Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen had already arrested a shipment carrying relief and sustenance aid in which among were hidden developed communication devices. The EU, on Friday, expressed its disappointment regarding Yemeni peace talks going on hiatus, and called on the deliberations to be appealed under U.N. sponsorship as soon as possible.

Catherine Ray, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini, said at a press conference that the solution in Yemen should be political based and instigative to negotiations. All parties are called on for participating at a negotiation session sponsored by the U.N. as soon as possible, Ray added.

Ray confirmed that the E.U. had set out the initiative of all the conflicting parties in Yemen to respect international humanitarian law and to abstain from targeting city infrastructure.

Amnesty International had accused Houthi militias and pro-Saleh militants of using brutal force against civilian protestors, in addition to kidnapping activists.

In its annual report Amnesty International mentioned that Houthi and pro-Saleh militias have reportedly killed at least 10 protestors in Sana’a, Taiz, and Ibb. According to the report, militia members have also wounded hundreds, and randomly arrested governmental supporters, journalists, and humanitarian rights’ defenders.

Moreover, the report shed light on Houthi militias tightening their grip around the freedom of forming associations and the public joining them. They have shut-down over 27 NGO’s and threatened their administrations and employees.

Medical facilities and their staff are being attacked by Houthi militants and pro-Saleh insurgents that have struck both medical team employees and patients. The attacks gravely endangered patients by turning medical facilities into battlefields in which bullets are exchanged. Facilities near Aden and Taiz have specifically suffered the humanitarian law disrespect of the insurgent Houthis and pro-Saleh fighters.

Amnesty International stated that Houthi militants are using real bullets against unarmed protestors in the Ibb governorate on Feb. 16, and thus resulted in wounding a fair number of civilian protestors. On Feb.21, the militants also resorted to shooting at protestors killing one of them, Nasr al-Shoja’a. Rolling down the list, Houthis used cruel violence against any of those who went out on a peaceful protest namely employing tear gas and live bullet rounds to separate a gathering in Taiz. At least 8 protestors were killed there, and over 30 were injured. 300 protestors later-on needed medical attention after they inhaled tear gas.